Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreas + Ducts

Key organs of Biliary and Pancreatic Duct System:

Liver produces bile
Gallbladder stores and concentrates bile
Pancreas produces pancreatic juices
Duodenum receives bile and pancreatic juice, and mixes them with the contents of the GI tract

Key terms:

Duct is a small tube.
Ampulla is the dilated terminal end of the duct.
Sphincter is a circular muscle.
Papilla is a protuberance of target organ where the ampulla releases secretions.

Drainage Pathways:

Right, left, and common hepatic ducts drain bile from the liver; their function is reflected in their name, as "hepatic" refers to the liver.
Cystic duct carries bile to and from the gallbladder; it's helpful to know that "cystic" refers to the gallbladder (recall the "cystic" artery).
Bile duct receives bile from the cystic and common hepatic ducts, and delivers it to the duodenum. Notice that its name simply reflects its contents (bile), not a specific organ.
Main pancreatic duct drains pancreatic juice from pancreas
Main pancreatic and common bile duct merge at hepatopancreatic ampulla (regulated by hepatopancreatic sphincter)
Pancreatic juice and bile is drained into duodenum via major duodenal papilla.
When present, accessory pancreatic duct drains pancreatic juice into duodenum via minor pancreatic papilla.

Clinical correlations:

Post-hepatic jaundice (aka, obstructive jaundice) refers to the yellow staining of body tissues, including skin and mucous membranes; it is the result of accumulation of yellow bile pigments in the blood, and is a sign that bile is not exiting the gallbladder appropriately.
Gallstones, which are formed from crystalized bile, can become lodged within and obstruct the ducts of the biliary system, with serious health consequences.

For example:

Cholecytitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) occurs when obstruction of the cycstic duct causes excessive bile accumulation in the gallbladder; subsequent swelling and irritation of the gallbladder can cause intense pain.
Pancreatitis (aka, pancreatic inflammation) can result from obstruction of the hepatopancreatic ampulla; instead of entering the small intestine, bile and pancreatic juices back up into the pancreas, causing inflammation.

Duct/Artery associations: